- Joined
- Sep 19, 2004
- Messages
- 2,547
The hills are alive...
Tonight I have been watching on TV "The Sound of Music" - one of my favorite oldies.
What many people these days may not realize - is that this movie is in fact based on a true story.
Here is the history as I recall it:
Captian Von Trapp was a WW I German Submarine caption (a war hero of the submarine force in fact). He settled in Austria swearing off war and became wealthy. He had I believe children His wife did die when they had a total of 7 children (I belive some of them may have been adopted).
Maria was indeed sent from the convent to be a governess - and did marry Captian Von Trapp; and together they were a musical family.
After Germany took over Austria at the start of WW II they did try to press Captian Von Trapp into service (he would have been a senior officer of the WW II german submarine force). They did in fact escape into freedome at the last minute - and eventually endid up in the US.
They performed music in the US; and eventually settled in the New England area.
The family built and ran a Musical training camp and lodge - which still exist today. They were never able to return to Austria for more than a visit as the Germans had confenscated the Van Trapp mansion and properties (it became the headquarter mansion for the German Occupation) and both Captian Von Trapp and Maria lived to good age.
Their was a book about the Von Trap Family Singers which was the basis for the idea behind the movie. I remember reading the book when I was a teenager (long after it was written).
Maria initially did not like the movie because it took a great many linceses, so to say, with the truth - but in the end accepted it becuase it told the essential story in a positive manner (I recall hearing her talk about this once when she was older - my memories of her comments are different than the current history listed in the history link below).
If anyone is interested in the history - or just want to get away to a butifull place - the Von Trapp Family lodge is still in business (mainly now as a vacation lodge).
Here is a link with more information. Note that one of the Von Trapp family still runs it (Johannes von Trapp).
www.trappfamily.com/
Note the history page:
I note the history listed varies in some details from my earlier memories.
www.trappfamily.com/history.html
Just thought you all would like to know.
The movie is one of the great ones - you just feel that things will get better (especially when you know the history).
Perry
Tonight I have been watching on TV "The Sound of Music" - one of my favorite oldies.
What many people these days may not realize - is that this movie is in fact based on a true story.
Here is the history as I recall it:
Captian Von Trapp was a WW I German Submarine caption (a war hero of the submarine force in fact). He settled in Austria swearing off war and became wealthy. He had I believe children His wife did die when they had a total of 7 children (I belive some of them may have been adopted).
Maria was indeed sent from the convent to be a governess - and did marry Captian Von Trapp; and together they were a musical family.
After Germany took over Austria at the start of WW II they did try to press Captian Von Trapp into service (he would have been a senior officer of the WW II german submarine force). They did in fact escape into freedome at the last minute - and eventually endid up in the US.
They performed music in the US; and eventually settled in the New England area.
The family built and ran a Musical training camp and lodge - which still exist today. They were never able to return to Austria for more than a visit as the Germans had confenscated the Van Trapp mansion and properties (it became the headquarter mansion for the German Occupation) and both Captian Von Trapp and Maria lived to good age.
Their was a book about the Von Trap Family Singers which was the basis for the idea behind the movie. I remember reading the book when I was a teenager (long after it was written).
Maria initially did not like the movie because it took a great many linceses, so to say, with the truth - but in the end accepted it becuase it told the essential story in a positive manner (I recall hearing her talk about this once when she was older - my memories of her comments are different than the current history listed in the history link below).
If anyone is interested in the history - or just want to get away to a butifull place - the Von Trapp Family lodge is still in business (mainly now as a vacation lodge).
Here is a link with more information. Note that one of the Von Trapp family still runs it (Johannes von Trapp).
www.trappfamily.com/
Note the history page:
I note the history listed varies in some details from my earlier memories.
www.trappfamily.com/history.html
Just thought you all would like to know.
The movie is one of the great ones - you just feel that things will get better (especially when you know the history).
Perry
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